Department for Transport

Department for Transport: Liability

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions his Department has been unable to notify Parliament of the particulars of a liability and thus fulfil the required 14 days’ notice prior to that liability going live in the last 12 months.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: During the past twelve months, the Department was unable to give full Parliamentary notification prior to a contingent liability going live on two occasions, as follows: Indemnity and loan facility to the administrators of Monarch Airlines, to support the repatriation of UK passengers stranded overseas when the airline collapsed. This liability was created shortly after Monarch entered administration in the early hours of Monday 2 October 2017. As Monarch was still trading up until this date, which fell during a Parliamentary recess, there was no possibility of giving the House advance notice of the liability. The Secretary of State gave an oral statement to the House on Monday 9 October 2017 (the first sitting day thereafter) and letters detailing the liability, which was commercially sensitive at the time, were sent to the chairs of the Transport and Public Accounts committees subsequently. Undertakings given to Great Western Railways relating to the future operations of Heathrow Express, where due to the highly commercial and confidential nature of the negotiations with Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) and First Greater Western Limited (FGW) and the need to conclude the deal quickly it was not possible to notify Parliament prior concluding the agreements and the liabilities going live. The liabilities were necessary in order to secure the deal that delivers significant benefits to the Department, such as the savings generated from not building a replacement depot for Heathrow Express rolling stock at Langley as part of the HS2 scheme. The Secretary of State gave a written statement to the House (HCWS748) on the matter on 11 June 2018.

Road Traffic Offences: Fixed Penalties

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to undertake a review of road traffic offences and penalties to improve road safety.

Jesse Norman: First, on 5 December 2016 the Government launched a consultation on driving offences and penalties relating to causing death and serious injury. This ran until 1 February 2017. The Government response to the consultation was published on 16 October 2017, and confirmed proposals to increase the maximum penalty for causing death by dangerous driving and for causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs from 14 years to life; and to create a new offence of causing serious injury by careless driving. These are still under review by the ministry of justice. Secondly, on 9 March 2018, the Department for Transport published an independent legal report which considers the case for a change in law for cycling, equivalent to causing death or serious injury by dangerous or careless driving. The Department is considering the report and will publish a response shortly. This work is part of an open and comprehensive review TO improve safety for all road users and encourage more people to walk and cycle. The Government intends to bring forward proposals for changes in the law as and when parliamentary time allows. Finally, on 13 June the Department for Transport published a progress report to the 2015 Road Safety Statement, which announced that it would be refreshing the Statement and developing a two year action plan for road safety. There are four priority user groups to be addressed in this plan: young people, rural road users, motorcyclists and older vulnerable users.

Driving Tests: Translation Services

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing language translation services during UK driving tests for asylum seekers.

Jesse Norman: A full consultation was undertaken between 5 February 2013 and 2 April 2013 to look at whether voiceover and interpreter facilities should be withdrawn for driving test candidates whose first language was not English. Following the outcome of the consultation, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency withdrew the facility for driving test candidates to use voiceovers during theory tests and interpreters during theory and practical tests on 7 April 2014.

Ferries: Irish Sea

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many UK (a) passengers and (b) businesses have been affected by the delay in the arrival of the Irish Ferries vessel WB Yeats on commercial routes in the Irish Sea.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Data on the number and the nationality of passengers affected will be held by the relevant ferry operator. In this instance, Irish Ferries has stated that 5,746 customers are affected in total, but a breakdown by nationality is not provided. However, given that the disrupted route is Dublin to Cherbourg the number of UK customers impacted is likely to be minimal. If UK passengers are affected then Irish Ferries are offering alternative travel arrangements, reimbursements and refunds, and the EU Regulation on maritime passenger rights also applies in these circumstances.

Ferries: Irish Sea

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on maritime employment in (a) North Wales and (b) the UK of Irish Ferries’ deployment of a new vessel on the Holyhead-Dublin route from September 2018.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: This is a commercial decision and therefore no assessment has been made by Government. However, we are pleased to see the commitment from Irish Ferries to operate on this route.

Roll-on Roll-off Ships: Irish Sea

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on maritime (a) employment and (b) passenger and freight services of Stena Line’s announcement of three new roll-on roll-off passenger ferries on routes between UK and Irish ports from 2020.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: This is a commercial decision and therefore no assessment has been made by Government. However, we are pleased to see the commitment from Stena Line to operate on these routes which recognises the growing trade between Great Britain and Ireland. The newer, larger and more efficient vessels offer opportunities to improve freight capacity and customer experience. Historically Stena Line have committed to employing people from the local area and we hope they continue to do so.

Merchant Shipping: Irish Sea

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on the enforcement of employment rights for seafarers employed on merchant ships working between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Employment rights for seafarers employed on merchant ships working between the UK and the Republic of Ireland are the same as those for seafarers on any other ship trading internationally. All UK registered ships and foreign ships in UK waters must comply with the requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum requirements for Seafarers) Regulations 2014, which implement the requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. Other regulations covering hours of rest, health and safety, crew accommodation, are also applicable and provide protection to seafarers. Ships are subject to inspections for compliance with these regulations.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Minimum Wage: Non-payment

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people who have not been paid the national minimum wage are able to access HMRC's online complaints system.

Andrew Griffiths: The Government is clear that anyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) should receive it. We have increased the HMRC enforcement budget to £26.3 million for 2018/19, up from £13 million in 2015/16. Since the introduction of an online complaints system in January 2017, there has been a significant increase in the number of NMW complaints received by HMRC. BEIS has been running a UK-wide campaign to raise awareness of the NMW and to encourage individuals who may have been underpaid to make a complaint. Individuals can also call the ACAS helpline (on 0300 123 1100) for free and confidential advice, and to make a complaint.

Members: Unpaid Work

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department holds information on how many hon. Members have been contacted by HMRC for advertising unpaid work in the last 12 months.

Andrew Griffiths: HMRC routinely contacts employers who advertise unpaid internships, signposting them to National Minimum Wage guidance to help ensure they are compliant. It has contacted over 1,000 employers in this way over the last year. We do not publish the names of employers involved in HMRC compliance or investigation activities, except where they have been found to be in breach of the law and have repaid all monies owed to workers.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Non-governmental Organisations: EU Grants and Loans

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to set up an alternative fund or to increase existing funding made available to UK registered non-governmental organisations working in the field of democracy and human rights to replace funding from the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights 2014-2020 after the UK leaves the EU.

Mark Field: ​Future spending decisions on UK priorities when we leave the European Union, - including human rights and democracy - are yet to be made and will depend on future circumstances.

Hong Kong: Rule of Law

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the rule of law in Hong Kong of the interference in that juristiction's judiciary by mainland China.

Mark Field: The Government's position was set out by the Foreign Secretary in his foreward, “The rule of law and independence of the judiciary is the foundation on which Hong Kong’s success and prosperity is built. This reporting period has seen a large number of cases related to the political system come before Hong Kong’s courts, including the disqualification of a further four legislators. The judiciary in Hong Kong remains in high esteem. It will be vital that the Hong Kong SAR Government is seen to use the system of justice fairly in all cases.

Antarctic: Marine Environment

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government plans to create an Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK is an active member of the Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and is committed to establishing a representative network of marine protected areas around Antarctica. The UK led the proposal for the South Orkney Islands Southern Shelf Marine Protected Area, which was the first MPA agreed by CCAMLR in 2009. The UK also strongly supported the designation of the Ross Sea region MPA, agreed in 2016. The UK is a co-proponent of the proposals to establish MPAs in the Weddell Sea and East Antarctica, and will be strongly advocating their adoption at the 37th CCAMLR meeting in October 2018.

Department of Health and Social Care

Diabetes: Health Education

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if will place in the Library the (a) outcomes and (b) resulting changes from NHS England’s inquiry into type 1 diabetes structured education.

Steve Brine: There has not been a specific inquiry into type 1 structured education, although NHS England is funding an expansion of T1 structured education as part of transformation funding.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to promote musculoskeletal health.

Steve Brine: Whilst not all musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions are preventable, physical activity can play an important part in reducing risk of developing certain MSK disorders and managing MSK symptoms. Regular physical activity that meets national guidelines on frequency and intensity can reduce an individual’s risk of developing joint and back pain by 25% and can improve symptoms for people with MSK conditions. MSK health is a priority for Public Health England (PHE) and a number of tools and resources have been produced to raise awareness of the risk factors associated with MSK health and the evidence based interventions to prevent, detect and treat MSK conditions. Information has been aimed at the public and the National Health Service/public health workforce through marketing campaigns such as One You, Making Every Contact Count and through the PHE Health Matters blog available at the following links: www.nhs.uk/oneyou/ www.makingeverycontactcount.co.uk/ https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/public-health-matters/ The Department works with PHE, NHS England and local authorities to promote physical activity. The ‘Providing physical activity interventions for people with musculoskeletal conditions’ report, published in March 2017 is the result of collaboration between Arthritis Research UK, PHE, NHS England and the Department. The report reviews the benefits of physical activity both for people with MSK conditions and wider society and provides a framework that supports a tiered approach to intervention. More information can be found at the following link: www.arthritisresearchuk.org/policy-and-public-affairs/policy-reports/physical-activity-report.aspx

Deficiency Diseases

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the proportion of people who are deficient in essential vitamins and minerals.

Steve Brine: The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) provides information on intakes of vitamins and minerals and blood indicators of status. Latest NDNS data (2014/15-2015/16) show that mean vitamin D intakes were a fifth to a third of the recommended amount in all age groups, and low blood vitamin D levels were seen in 26% of older children (11-18 years) and 17% of adults (19-64 years). Low blood folate levels, indicating risk of anaemia, were found in 28% of older girls, 15% of older boys and 7% of adults. 54% of older girls and 27% of adult women had low iron intakes, and iron deficiency based on blood samples was found in 9% of older girls and 5% of adult women. There was also evidence of low intakes of vitamin A, riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, potassium and selenium in some age groups. Results of the NDNS are available to view at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-diet-and-nutrition-survey

Obesity: Children

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the childhood obesity plan will be published; and whether it will include plans to increase the (a) promotion and (b) marketing of fruit and vegetables.

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the second chapter of the childhood obesity strategy.

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the second chapter of the childhood obesity strategy will include recommendations to improve children’s physical health.

Steve Brine: Chapter two of our world-leading childhood obesity plan will set out ambitious actions that we believe will make a real difference. We will be in a position to say more shortly.

Chiropody

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that community podiatry services have sufficient numbers of podiatrists to meet patient demand.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government recognises that podiatrists make an invaluable contribution to service both in the National Health Service and community. Health Education England (HEE) published Facing the Facts, Shaping the Future, a draft workforce strategy for health and social care, in December 2017. HEE is working with its partners across health and social care to develop a final strategy, which they will publish later this year. The forthcoming health and care workforce strategy will be developed in parallel with the long-term plan for the NHS, to ensure this reflects and supports the plan. The workforce strategy will set out our commitment to shaping the face of the NHS and social care workforce for the next decade. The funding reforms which came into force on 1 August 2017 mean we have moved away from centrally imposed number controls and financial limitations on training places, creating a sustainable model for universities and the healthcare workforce supply. As a result, we expect this to enable up to 10,000 additional nursing, midwifery and allied health profession training places over this parliament. Healthcare students will now typically receive at least a 25% increase in the financial resources provided to them whilst they study, compared to previous arrangements under the NHS bursary scheme. Eligible healthcare students also have access to additional government funding for those with children, support for travel to clinical placements and an exceptional support fund in eligible cases. Additionally, HEE continues to engage with the Office for Students over the Strategic Interventions in Health Education Disciplines programme and is monitoring educational course data and workforce numbers in order to ensure small and vulnerable professions such as podiatry are supported and workforce supply is maintained now and in the future. Podiatry is the first allied health profession to offer an apprenticeship route to training. HEE will continue to monitor and work with employers to support the apprenticeship route whilst it is in its infancy. This should help to widen access and participation to programmes and the profession.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that women (a) with a physical disability and (b) who are otherwise house or bed-bound are able to access cervical screening.

Steve Brine: Through the public health functions agreement (S7a), NHS England aims to improve public health outcomes and reduce inequalities. Providers are commissioned to optimise attendance among informed willing individuals, and maximise accessibility of the service for all groups in the community, which includes providing home visits as appropriate for routine appointments. Local performance management looks at cervical screening uptake and aims to address any gaps, giving regard to the need to reduce inequalities between patients in access to, and outcomes from, the services. Recent work has included collaboration with Jo’s Trust, the cervical cancer charity, through the ‘Smear for Smear’ campaign and a co-produced short video/film by and for people living with learning disabilities that seeks to address perceived and real barriers to access.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will review the availability of specialist cervical screening services for women who have experienced sexual violence.

Steve Brine: There is currently no specific guidance on screening women who have experienced sexual violence. The NHS Cervical Screening programme does encourage practices to be sympathetic and supportive to all women going through the procedure, in order to make it as comfortable as possible. Support of a chaperone and for a female general practitioner/ nurse to undertake the screening is available to all women undertaking their screening test. In addition, the NHS Cervical Screening Programmes, sample taker training guidance covers various barriers which sample takers should be considerate of, which includes fear of cervical screening following a history of sexual assault or rape. The guidance can be viewed at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cervical-screening-education-and-training

Diabetes: Preventive Medicine

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans are in place for that national roll-out of the digital interventions being piloted as part of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme digital stream.

Steve Brine: The national provider framework for the provision of ‘Healthier You: The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme’ is expected to be re-tendered during 2018/19. Delivery of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme through remote and digital means is expected to form part of the service delivery requirements under the new Framework.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is providing to the UNAIDS HIV Prevention 2020 Road Map.

Alistair Burt: The UK government is a long-standing supporter of UNAIDS’s efforts to end the HIV epidemic, committing up to £75m between 2016 and 2021. We remain deeply concerned that global HIV infection rates are not declining fast enough, and believe HIV prevention must be prioritised. So we are proud to be a founding member of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition and supported the adoption of the UNAIDS HIV Prevention 2020 Road Map in October 2017, and its follow-up events.

Developing Countries: Health Services

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what preparations her Department is making ahead of the high-level meeting on universal health coverage agreed by the UN General Assembly to take place in 2019.

Alistair Burt: Achieving Global Goal 3 by 2030, including universal health coverage (UHC), is a priority for the UK. DFID is coordinating across the UK Government and with other donors on preparations for the High-Level Meeting on UHC. We are working to ensure that UHC, and the steps to achieve it, are discussed in international forums such as the G7 and G20 ahead of the High-Level Meeting.

Africa and Asia: Food

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to improve longer term nutrition and food security for (a) women, (b) children and (c) other vulnerable communities in conflict and fragile states in (i) Africa and (ii) Asia that are also prone to climate related disasters.

Alistair Burt: The Government has committed to improve the nutrition of 50 million people in developing countries by 2020. We particularly focus on preventing and treating undernutrition among infants and young children and improving the nutrition of women and adolescents. As part of this, we are strengthening essential health, nutrition and social protection services in a number of countries so that these can better protect the food security and nutrition of people affected by climate shocks and other crises. DFID also monitors early warning data and works with governments and operational partners to put in place the best possible early response if food insecurity and malnutrition deteriorates.

Developing Countries: Natural Disasters

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the UK Government is taking to ensure that the response to early warnings of climate disasters addresses the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable people.

Alistair Burt: DFID’s humanitarian aid is targeted on the basis of need. We monitor areas at risk of climate disaster and work closely with local governments, civil society and communities to ensure we target the most vulnerable. We also support projects that provide early warning information directly to communities at risk. In areas that are particularly prone to disaster we are supporting social protection schemes, pre–identifying those most vulnerable and ensuring help is delivered swiftly and efficiently.

Ministry of Justice

Community Rehabilitation Companies

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to terminate community rehabilitation company contracts in 2020.

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with community rehabilitation companies on their future role in providing probation services.

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of ending contracts with community rehabilitation companies early in 2020; and what estimate he has made of the cost of early termination of each such contract.

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the potential merits and (b) cost of bringing back in-house the services provided by community rehabilitation companies when contracts with those companies end.

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on rehabilitation services of reducing the number of community rehabilitation companies providing such services.

Rory Stewart: Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) contracts are currently due to end in 2022. We have been clear that CRCs need to improve, and are in commercial discussions with providers to ensure that we secure the quality of probation services we need. Contracts allow for a range of action to be taken. No decisions have yet been made about the future delivery of probation services once current CRC contracts end: we will update Parliament as necessary.

Community Rehabilitation Companies

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the value for money of community rehabilitation company contracts and the effect of those contracts on re-offending rates.

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his Department has made of the performance of community rehabilitation companies.

Rory Stewart: We closely monitor Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) performance and hold providers to account for meeting their contractual obligations. Although adjustments made to contracts in 2017 to better reflect the cost of delivering services increased the potential value of CRC contracts by up to £277m, our total spend on CRCs is still expected to be substantially less than the c.£3.7bn originally forecast. Since contracts began, CRCs have reduced the number of people reoffending by two percentage points. Nevertheless, we recognise that CRC performance needs to improve. We are currently in commercial discussions with providers to make sure we secure the quality of services we need, and have been clear that that all options to manage performance, including contract termination, remain under consideration.

Community Rehabilitation Companies

David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many community rehabilitation companies have submitted evidence to his Department citing financial difficulties in providing rehabilitation services.

Rory Stewart: We work closely with probation providers to make sure they meet their contractual obligations and understand any barriers to delivery. Following discussions with Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) and their parent companies, in 2017 we made changes to contracts so that payments to them more accurately reflect the costs of delivering services. This was set out in a written statement to Parliament in July last year.We have been clear that CRC performance needs to improve, and are in commercial discussions with providers to make sure we secure the quality of services we need.

Department for International Trade

Overseas Investment: Treaties

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the Answer of 25 November 2016 to Question 53832 on Overseas Investment: Treaties, what recent steps he has taken to prepare a framework for future bilateral investment agreements after the UK leaves the EU.

Graham Stuart: The Government is currently reviewing its trade and investment policy. We are considering a range of options in the design of future bilateral trade and investment agreements. Until the UK leaves the EU, we will remain subject to EU trade & investment agreements and policy.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Animal Welfare

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he last met with representatives of the RSPCA to discuss animal welfare.

George Eustice: Ministers meet the RSPCA regularly to discuss animal welfare issues. Most recently, Lord Gardiner met them on 11 June 2018. I also attended their parliamentary drop-in on 13 June 2018.

Fisheries: Quotas

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to review the UK's fishing quotas.

George Eustice: Leaving the EU provides an opportunity to secure a fairer share of the fish in our waters. We have instigated a comprehensive programme of research to inform this process. We will set out our vision for sustainable fisheries management in a fisheries White Paper shortly and introduce a Fisheries Bill later this session.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Procurement

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2018 to Question 146176 on procurement, what the daily rate of pay is of each of those contractors who have been employed by his Department for five years or more.

George Eustice: As at 31 March 2018, three contractors had been engaged by Defra for a period of five years or more. Their respective daily rates were £237, £466 and £534. This is the total daily cost to the Department of engaging the individuals and includes agency fees and VAT.

Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill (Draft)

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans for Clause 1 and Clause 2 of the draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill to be introduced as separate pieces of primary legislation.

George Eustice: I refer my Hon Friend to the reply given to the Hon Member for Bristol East, Kerry McCarthy, on 27 March 2018 to PQ 133919.

Fishing Catches

Scott Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he is having with representatives of the fishing industry on the future implications of the discard ban and its effects on local fishermen’s income.

George Eustice: I have discussed the implications of the Landing Obligation and possible problems regarding choke species with a number of fishing industry representatives including from the Cornwall Fish Producers Organisation, where concerns over the gadoid fishery in the Celtic sea were raised. The UK has put forward proposals for mitigation measures which have been included in the join recommendations submitted by the North Sea and North Western Water regional groups to the Commission in May 2018. Other mitigation measures will be developed in discussion with the European Commission and Member States over the next few months for possible inclusion in the annual TAC and Quota Regulation to be agreed at December Council. I had a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Vella to discuss the specific challenge of choke species during the Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on the 18th July.

Home Office

Home Office: Social Mobility

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to improve social mobility in each of the last seven years.

Victoria Atkins: One of the Government’s key priorities is tackling social mobility. Individuals in our society should be able to progress as far as their talents will take them.The Home Office plays its part in achieving this by working to create a safe and prosperous environment in the UK, through working to cut crime and the harm that it causes, and by protecting vulnerable people and communities, so that individuals are not prevented from realising their potential.Full details of our goals and how we are working to achieve them are in our Single Departmental Plan which is available on Gov.uk.

Immigrants: Caribbean

Gareth Snell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions Windrush records were used to confirm the immigration status of UK citizens in advance of the disposal of those records; and which (a) agencies of her Department and (b) Ministers of her Department received that information on immigration status.

Caroline Nokes: No decision was taken to destroy ‘Windrush records’ specifically and records were not categorised as being related to a ‘Windrush migrant’ or the ‘Windrush generation’. Any Windrush papers would have been destroyed in line with the retention and disposal periods set for the wider records collections in which they were located.When making immigration decisions, officials will have regard to a wide range of information and evidence. It is not possible to assess the full range of information considered in a case without an examination of each paper file (where these are available). This could only be done at disproportionate cost.

Home Office: Written Questions

Gareth Snell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to respond to Questions 139023, 139024, 139025, 139026 and 139027, on immigrants: Caribbean, tabled on 26 April 2018.

Caroline Nokes: UIN 139023 was answered on the 19th June 2018, UINs 139024, 139025 and 139027 were answered on the 18th June 2018 and UIN 139026 was answered on the 22nd June 2018.

Deportation

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who were resident in Ipswich constituency have been deported from the UK since 2011.

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the people deported from Ipswich constituency since 2011 were deemed to be citizens of other Commonwealth countries.

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of those Commonwealth citizens deported from Ipswich constituency since 2011 are now covered by the Government’s assurances in respect of the Windrush generation.

Caroline Nokes: The information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.The Home Secretary has committed to regularly updating the Home Affairs Select Committee on the results of the Department's review of all removals and immigration detentions, dating back to 2002, of Caribbean nationals now aged over 45 (i.e. born before 1.1.73), to establish whether any could have entered the UK prior to 1973 and therefore might be protected by the 1971 Act.

Home Office: Written Questions

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to respond to Question 142891, tabled on 10 May 2018, by the hon. Member for Edinburgh East; and what proportion of named day questions his Department has not answered by the due date in the last 12 months.

Caroline Nokes: UIN 142891 was responded to on the 14th June 2018.The latest departmental figures on response rate to parliamentary questions is published by the Procedure Committee, the latest publication can be found here:https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/procedure-committee/publications

Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Doctors

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many doctors from India with job offers at Warrington & Halton NHS Trust have (a) applied for and (b) been granted visas in the past 12 months.

Caroline Nokes: The available information on applications and outcomes (i.e. grants, refusals, withdrawn and lapsed cases) of entry clearance visas in the ‘Tier 2 & pre-PBS equivalent’ category are published quarterly in ‘Immigration Statistics’, Visas data tables volume 1, table vi_01_q, latest edition at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-march-2018/list-of-tables#visas.Neither a breakdown by profession, or applications and outcomes by region of employment, or by employer/sponsor is available in the published statistics.

Home Office: Staff

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of FTE staff in his Department in each year since 2010.

Victoria Atkins: Home Office figures are published annually on gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ho-annual-reports-and-accounts

Female Genital Mutilation

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the latest NHS Female Genital Mutilation Experimental Statistics Report, published on 6 March 2018, how many (a) police investigations, (b) arrests and (c) convictions have resulted from, or have been pursued in light of data published in that report.

Victoria Atkins: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a crime and it is child abuse. The Government is clear that we will not tolerate a practice that can cause extreme and lifelong suffering to women and girls.The FGM Enhanced Dataset is published quarterly and annually by NHS Digital and provides information on the number of women and girls with FGM who are being cared for by the NHS in England. The most recent set of annual statistics were published in July 2017 and quarterly statistics were published in June 2018. A detailed breakdown of these statistics by local authority, age at which FGM was carried out and country where FGM was undertaken is available online at https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/female-genital-mutilation. These statistics demonstrate that a very high majority of cases are identified in adult women who were born in Africa or Asia who also underwent the practice in their country of birth.In addition, in 2015 the Government introduced a new FGM Mandatory Reporting Duty requiring all regulated health, social care and teaching professionals to report known cases of FGM in under 18s directly to the police. Whilst we do not currently collect data centrally on the number of reports made to the police under the FGM Mandatory Reporting Duty, we are considering how this data could be collected in future as part of the police Annual Data Requirement.Information on police investigations, arrests and convictions resulting from the publication of the FGM Enhanced Dataset is not collected centrally.

Domestic Violence

Mr Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for his Department to respond to its consultation on the draft Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill; and what the timetable is for further steps to be taken in relation to that Bill.

Victoria Atkins: On 8 March we launched a 12 week public consultation on proposals for a landmark domestic abuse Bill and a supporting package of practical action to transform the response to domestic abuse. The consultation closed on 31 May. Over 3,200 responses to the consultation were received. The responses to the consultation are being considered and a draft Bill will be published later this session.

Domestic Violence

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for his Department to respond to it's consultation on the draft Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill; and what the timetable is for further steps to be taken in relation to that Bill.

Victoria Atkins: On 8 March we launched a 12 week public consultation on proposals for a landmark domestic abuse Bill and a supporting package of practical action to transform the response to domestic abuse. The consultation closed on 31 May. Over 3,200 responses to the consultation were received. The responses to the consultation are being considered and a draft Bill will be published later this session.

Licensed Premises

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities comply with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 to (a) eliminate discrimination and (b) advance equality of opportunity when considering restaurant, entertainment and alcohol licensing applications and re-applications.

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what powers are available to local authorities to (a) investigate and (b) record breaches of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to licensed premises.

Victoria Atkins: The Public Sector Equality Duty, enshrined within the Equality Act 2010, requires all public bodies, including local authorities, to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and advance equality of opportunity in respect of all of the protected characteristics established by the 2010 Act. It is for each public body to demonstrate that they have fulfilled this duty and have considered the impact of their policies on each of the protected characteristics. Anyone with concerns that public bodies are not fulfilling this duty should, in the first instance, contact the relevant authority directly.The Government is sympathetic to issues in relation to accessibility to licensed premises for disabled people and with ensuring businesses and service providers comply with the requirements in the 2010 Act. The Government has previously announced it will consult relevant organisations to better understand the extent of the problem. We will also work with the National Association of Licensing Enforcement Officers and representatives of the licensed trade to explore what practical measures can be taken to ensure significant improvements.

Serious Violence Taskforce

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the announcement  entitled New Taskforce to Take Action Against Violent Crime, published on 26 April 2018, (a) what the frequency of meetings of the taskforce will be and (b) what the programme of work for the taskforce will be in the next 12 months.

Victoria Atkins: The Serious Violence Taskforce has been established to oversee and drive implementation of the strategy. The Taskforce is chaired by the Home Secretary and brings together Ministers, Members of Parliament, the Mayor of London, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Director General of the National Crime Agency, other senior police leaders, and public sector and voluntary sector chief executives.The Taskforce met for the first time on 26 April and agreed a forward look programme of work for the first four meetings. At the first meeting in April the Taskforce looked at action underway to tackle county lines. The Taskforce has just met again on 11 June for the second time and focused on violent content available via social media. The Taskforce will meet in July to discuss the Early Intervention Youth Fund and again in September to consider local partnerships and engaging communities. At the September meeting, the Taskforce will also review and agree its forward look for the next sequence of meetings based on the actions underway and key areas of challenge. It is intended that meetings of the Taskforce will be on a regular basis.

Domestic Violence

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for his Department to respond to it's consultation on the draft Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill; and what the timetable is for further steps to be taken in relation to that Bill.

Victoria Atkins: On 8 March we launched a 12 week public consultation on proposals for a landmark domestic abuse Bill and a supporting package of practical action to transform the response to domestic abuse. The consultation closed on 31 May. Over 3,200 responses to the consultation were received. The responses to the consultation are being considered and a draft Bill will be published later this session.

Drugs: Festivals and Special Occasions

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which (a) organisations and (b) individuals his Department has held discussions with on the consumption of illegal drugs at UK music festivals since April 2018.

Victoria Atkins: Home Office officials are in regular contact with the National Policing Lead regarding the consumption of illegal drugs at UK music festivals.No illegal drug-taking can be assumed to be safe and there is no safe way to take them.While operational decisions are a matter for Chief Constables, the Government and the public expect the police to enforce the law.

Heroin: Glasgow

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the letter from his Department to Glasgow City Council published on 4 June 2018 on drug consumption rooms, what steps his Department is taking to protect heroin users in Glasgow against HIV infection.

Victoria Atkins: Health is a devolved matter, and as such is wholly the responsibility of the Scottish Government.However, the Government support a range of evidenced-base approaches to reduce the health-related harms associated with drug misuse. For example, availability of injecting equipment through needle and syringe programmes to prevent blood borne infections including HIV.We have also amended the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 to permit needle exchange programmes to distribute foil for heroin smoking and we are committed to widening the availability of Naloxone to prevent drug-related deaths.We also recognise that, for many people who become dependent on heroin, opioid substitution therapy (OST) will be an important part of their pathway to recovery. For those where opioid substitutes have not been effective, Heroin Assisted Treatment (HAT) provides an alternative and effective way of treating individuals.

Slavery

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) children and (b) adults referred to the National Referral Mechanism are currently waiting for a (a) reasonable grounds and (b) conclusive grounds decision.

Victoria Atkins: Data on the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) are published regularly by the National Crime Agency, available via the following link: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/national-referral-mechanism-statistics The 2017 Annual Report of NRM statistics includes data on the outcomes of NRM decisions.

Slavery

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many victims of modern slavery have had their weekly allowance reduced from (a) £65 to £37.75 and (b) £65 to £17.

Victoria Atkins: Currently, potential victims of modern slavery who are supported through the Adult Victims of Modern Slavery Care Contract usually receive £65 per week to cover their subsistence needs.Some modern slavery victims are also asylum seekers and in normal circumstances, this group is supported under separate arrangements provided for in Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Asylum seekers receiving support under these arrangements usually receive £37.75 per week to cover their essential needs, the amount provided for in the Asylum Support Regulations 2000.No published figures are available, but a single person with no dependants, previously supported under the Care Contract but who has transferred to support under Part 6 of the 1999 Act, is likely to be receiving £37.75 per week. Lower amounts are provided only if the person has access to other income or assets liable to be taken into consideration under the 2000 Regulations.Plans to fully harmonise the subsistence rates provided to modern slavery victims with the rates provided to asylum seekers were announced in October last year and the implementation plans are currently being developed. The changes will result in reductions to the rates for adults, but increases for their dependent children and additional support for those leaving the support system after final confirmation of whether they are victim of modern slavery.Victims will also continue to receive other support separately, including legal aid, counselling, NHS medical and dental service.

Members: Correspondence

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, by what date he plans to respond to the letter of the right hon. Member for Birkenhead dated 11 May 2018 on human trafficking and forced labour.

Victoria Atkins: There is no record of the letter of 11 May being received. A copy was secured on 15 June and the contents will be considered. The departmental target is to respond within 15 working days.

Treasury

Mortgages: Young People

Ian Blackford: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what specific plans he has to tackle the rise of mortgage debt for young people which take account of the relatively higher level of such debt than in previous generations.

John Glen: The share of households, including young people, with mortgage debt-servicing-ratios above 40% of income – the level often associated with a higher risk of repayment difficulties – remains low at 1.5%, and well below the levels seen before the financial crisis. Secured debt as a proportion of income was 104% in Q4 2017, down from a peak of 120% in Q1 2008. The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee’s (FPC) 2014 owner-occupier mortgage market recommendations guard against the risk of a marked loosening in underwriting standards and a significant increase in the number of highly indebted households, including among younger households. These include a limit on lending at high loan-to-income ratios, and the requirement that all new mortgage loans are stress-tested against the effect of a rise in interest rates. The FPC will continue to monitor risks to UK financial stability from UK household indebtedness and regularly reviews the calibration of its macroprudential tools.

Wholesale Trade: Alcoholic Drinks

Teresa Pearce: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many wholesalers have applied for registration under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme since that scheme was introduced by HMRC on 1 January 2016.

Teresa Pearce: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many wholesalers have had their registration application rejected under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme  since that scheme was introduced on 1 January 2016.

Robert Jenrick: Since the introduction of the Alcohol Wholesalers Registration Scheme on 1 January 2016, HMRC has received 9,984 applications for approval. This includes a small number of applications from non-wholesale businesses. Over the same period, HMRC has rejected 811 applications for approval under the Alcohol Wholesalers Registration Scheme. This includes applications from businesses covered by an exemption, such as retailers who make wholesale sales unintentionally.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Football: Sportsgrounds

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has estimated the cost of implementing safe standing areas at football stadiums.

Tracey Crouch: Spectator safety at sports grounds remains the priority for Government. We are looking into any changes that may be needed, are in discussions with the football authorities and relevant stakeholders and are keen to carefully review the evidence on the matter. I look forward to discussing at length the nuances and complexities of sports ground safety in Parliament next week.